CITY boss Mark Hughes admits it has been a bit of a different summer for him, but he is delighted to have brought in so many players so early.

The Bantams have made 11 signings already since the end of last season, with more likely to arrive soon.

Hughes said: "It's helped to be aggressive with our recruitment.

"It's not an exact science and it's been interesting, but we've come through and just about got every target that we've gone in for.

"It's unusual to get all this done so early, but I'm grateful we have a lot of new players and we now already have the majority of the squad here to take us through the season."

On the prospect of more signings, Hughes said: "We've obviously got good numbers, but we're not finished.

"If good opportunities arise, we will pursue them.

"We're in decent shape, and will now possibly look at giving opportunities to some of our players out on loan, the ones who are likely to want to get out and play if they are missing games."

Talking about the contrast between transfer windows in the Premier League and League Two further, Hughes said: "It's a little more difficult and different.

"There's more security and longer contracts further up, as clubs look to protect their assets, but they have the resources to give those out.

"It is a different situation in League Two, and there is a big turnover, more than I've ever had in the past, but that gives you more opportunities to improve the group.

"I'm not worried about it (the high turnover) and if you get recruitment right, it gives you a real advantage."

Many of the new signings have admitted they were attracted by the pull of playing under Hughes.

But the modest boss said: "A number of players have mentioned me when they've joined, but it's more about what we can do here and what we can offer the players.

"There's no better place to play football in League Two than at Bradford City and Valley Parade, with the draw of the fans.

"If I was still a player, looking at my options, I'd look at City as somewhere to test myself under those conditions, with a huge crowd at the stadium every other week."

And that looks set to be the case on July 30, with City's opening League Two fixture a tasty looking one at home to freshly-relegated Doncaster.

Hughes said: "It's a great fixture.

"Everyone is always looking for that first one, and we've got a local derby against a side who are likely to bring big numbers.

"We've sold lots of season tickets already ourselves and we could be looking at up to a 20,000 crowd coming to that first game, which for League Two is remarkable."

First comes pre-season, and asked about the Bantams' schedule, which sees them play some local sides, as well as Derby and Sunderland, Hughes said: "I'm happy with the set-up we've got for the friendlies.

"We've got that mixture of some higher teams and some below so I'm happy enough.

"We've got that training camp in Spain too, which will enable us to be together 24/7 and get us building to where we want to be.

"It's an important period to integrate the group."

That all started on Thursday with the return to pre-season training, on which Hughes said: "It was nice to see some familiar faces, and some unfamiliar ones.

"It was about catching up and getting the work done to test that everyone was at the level we need on that first day.

"They've all come back fit and well too, which is good to see."